Sanitary Wipe Having Layered Paper Types

ABSTRACT

A sanitary wipe having an inner moistened towelette. The moistened towelette is a paper core that is moistened with a first volume of the liquid that is between 50% and 98% of the volume needed to saturate the towelette. The moistened towelette is wrapped in tissue paper, such as the kind traditionally used as toilet paper. The tissue paper is folded into a first section and a second section. The moistened towelette is interposed between the twp sections of tissue paper. As such, the tissue paper touches the skin when pressed against the skin. The moistened towelette, the first section of tissue paper and the second section of tissue paper are all manufactured so that they lose physical integrity when saturated in water. In this manner, the sanitary wipe maintains integrity during use, but degrades sufficiently in a toilet to be flushed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to the structure of sanitary wipes. More particularly, the present invention relates to sanitary wipes that are pre-moistened and manufactured from multiple plies of paper.

2. Prior Art Description

Rolls of toilet paper have been sold for the better part of the last two centuries. Typically, toilet paper is made from a blend of hardwood paper pulp and softwood paper pulp. The softwood paper pulp has long fibers that provide the paper with tensile strength. The hardwood paper pulp has short fibers that provide paper with softness. Many recipes of hardwood pulp and softwood pulp are used by different manufacturers to provide the toilet paper with varying degrees of both softness and strength.

Most paper is designed to hold some physical integrity when it becomes wet. Toilet paper is the exception. Toilet paper is specifically designed to lose its physical integrity when it gets wet. In this manner, it will not clog pipes, sewage processing equipment, or septic systems after it is flushed. Toilet paper is created by creping the paper pulp. Creping is a means of mechanically compacting paper along its length. The result is an increase in basis weight (mass per unit area) as well as dramatic changes in many physical properties. Creping is generally accomplished with a flexible blade, a so-called doctor blade, against a Yankee dryer. A Yankee dryer is a large diameter drum that is heated with steam. The drum provides a hot surface for completing the drying of papermaking webs at the end of the Papermaking process. At the beginning of the papermaking process, the paper pulp slurry is washed, processed and bleached. Drying begins on a foraminous forming carrier, such as a Fourdrinier wire, where excess water is separated from the pulp slurry. The resulting fibrous slurry is transferred to a felt or fabric where de-watering is continued either by mechanically compacting the paper or by through-drying with hot air. The semi-dry slurry is then transferred to the surface of the Yankee dryer for the drying to be completed. The result is a tissue that appears to be true paper. However, the fibers of the paper have never been pressed together or otherwise bonded. As such, the resulting paper disintegrates when made wet. The plys of tissue paper are layered, embossed, wound and cut into finished rolls of toilet paper.

Products like paper towels and sanitary wipes are made from the same basic raw materials as is toilet paper. However, these products are specifically designed not to disintegrate when wet with water. This is done by mixing additives to the paper pulp. The additives include adhesive resins, starches and other water insoluble fibers, such as cotton linters, rayon, bagasse, polyolefin and/or polyester. The paper pulp is formed into sheets that are both pressed and heated. This causes the adhesives and starches in the pulp to bond to the various fibers. The result is a paper towel or sanitary wipe that has wood fiber to absorb moisture and other fibers to maintain integrity. Thus, paper towels and sanitary wipes are both absorbent and strong. This is typically desirable, unless a person wants to flush the paper towel or sanitary wipe into a toilet. Many paper towels and sanitary wipes are made so strong that they maintain their physical integrity after being flushed through a toilet. A complete paper towel or wipe is then present in the sewage.

In the bathroom, most people use toilet paper to clean themselves. However, for many people, the use of toilet paper alone is insufficient. In order to avoid excessive wiping, some people prefer to use sanitary wipes or wet paper towels. Although a sanitary wipe or a wet paper towel may clean more of the body using fewer wipes, they do have disadvantages. First, sanitary wipes and paper towels are not flushable. Since they do not disintegrate well in water, they have a tendency to clog toilets. Furthermore, they cannot be used in homes with septic systems, because the paper does not break down quickly and can lead to clogs in the drainage field of the septic system. Additionally, sanitary wipes and paper towels are used wet for comfort. This often leaves a person wet after use. The wetness can cause chaffing and other irritations.

In the prior art, attempts have been made to create a hybrid product that is part toilet tissue and part wet wipe. Such a hybrid product is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,097,322 to Osorio, entitled Paper Product. In the Osorio patent, a wet wipe is held between two pieces of wax paper. The wax paper is held between toilet tissue. In order to use the product, the product must first be pulled apart and the wax paper removed. As such, the product requires a significant amount of preparation before it can be used. This severely limits the commercial appeal of the product.

A need therefore exists for a hybrid product that combines tissue paper with a more substantial wipe, wherein the product is ready to use and the product is both flushable and septic tank appropriate. This need is met by the present invention as described and clamed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sanitary wipe. The sanitary wipe has an inner moistened towelette. The moistened towelette is a paper core that is only moistened with a liquid. The paper core is moistened with a first volume of the liquid that is below volume needed to completely saturate the core.

The moistened towelette is wrapped in tissue paper, such as the kind traditionally used as toilet paper. The tissue paper is folded into a first section and a second section. The moistened towelette is either interposed between the first section of tissue paper and the second section of tissue paper, or is placed in abutment with the tissue paper. As such, the tissue paper touches the skin when pressed against the skin.

The moistened towelette, the first section of tissue paper and the second section of tissue paper are all manufactured so that they lose physical integrity when saturated in water. In this manner, the sanitary wipe maintains integrity during use, but degrades sufficiently in a toilet to be flushed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sanitary wipe;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows the exemplary embodiment of the sanitary wipe packaged in a disposable wrapping;

FIG. 5 shows a method of forming a first configuration of a sanitary wipe from packaged wipes and toilet tissue; and

FIG. 6 shows a method of forming a second configuration of a sanitary wipe from packaged wipes and toilet tissue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the present invention sanitary wipe can be embodied in many ways, only two embodiments of the sanitary wipe are shown. The illustrated embodiments are selected for the purposes of description and explanation. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the claims when filed.

Referring to FIG. 1 in conjunction with both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a sanitary wipe 10 is shown. The sanitary wipe 10 has two primary components. The primary components include a moistened towelette 12 and a fold of tissue paper 14. The moistened towelette 12 is sized to fit within the fold of the tissue paper 14, so that the moistened towelette 12 is interposed between a first section 16 of tissue paper and a second section 18 of tissue paper. The area of each section of tissue paper 16, 18 is at least as large as the area of the moistened towelette 12 that it abuts.

The fold of tissue paper 14 is preferably made from traditional toilet tissue paper 20 that is manufactured in the traditional manner. The fold of tissue paper 14 is therefore soft, absorbent and looses physical integrity if exposed to excessive water. The fold of tissue paper 14 is rapidly biodegradable and septic system safe.

The moistened towelette 12 is thicker, stronger and capable of absorbing more moisture than the fold of tissue paper 14 surrounding it. The moistened towelette 12 is preferably as least as thick as the combined thickness of the two sections 16, 18 present in the fold of tissue paper 14. The moistened towelette 12 is moistened with a fluid. The fluid can be water. However, an aqueous solution 19 of mostly water is preferred. The aqueous solution 19 can contain glycol and other additives that inhibit evaporation. Furthermore, lubricants and antimicrobials can also be added.

The moistened towelette 12 is only partially moistened. For the purposes of this description, the moistened towelette 12 would be saturated at the point where it could absorb no more water without that water collecting and dripping from the lowest point of the towelette. “Moistened” is herein meant to mean containing a volume of water between 50% and 98% its saturation level. It will therefore be understood that the moistened towelette 12 can absorb more water than it currently holds without dripping. Accordingly, the moistened towelette 12 will feel only damp to the touch.

Since the moistened towelette 12 is not completely saturated, it is capable of absorbing more moisture. It will not surrender moisture to the surrounding environment unless it is squeezed or otherwise compressed. As such, in an unused state, the moistened towelette 12 does not transfer much moisture to the surrounding fold of tissue paper 14. The small amount of moisture that is transferred, due to surface-to-surface contact, is minimal and is insufficient to affect the physical integrity of the fold of tissue paper 14. Rather, the fold of tissue paper 14 feels only slightly damp, as if the fold of tissue paper 14 were in a highly humid environment.

When the sanitary wipe 10 is pressed against the body, the fold of tissue paper 14 is pressed against the moistened towelette 12. Furthermore, the moistened towelette 12 is partially compressed between the hand and body. As the moistened towelette 12 is compressed, its absorptive capacity changes. Like the squeezing of a sponge, the compressed moistened towelette experiences a reduced absorptive capacity. The moistened towelette 12, therefore, sheds water into the surrounding fold of tissue paper 14. This moistens the fold of tissue paper 14 and makes the sanitary wipe 10 highly effective in cleaning the body. However, the moisture level is not excessive and does not cause any significant wetting of the body.

The moistened towelette 12 can be a section of a traditional paper towel that is both cut to the appropriate size and moistened to the appropriate degree. However, traditional paper towels do not degrade well in septic systems. The preferred material for the moistened towelette 12 is a paper towel that is made without the use of synthetic fibers and without the use of adhesives and binders that are not water soluble. The preferred moistened towelette 12 is degrades when saturated, yet is stable when only moistened. The moistened towelette 12 has an initial wet strength sufficient for use in the moistened condition, yet which is also temporary. The moistened towelette has a paper core 22. The preferred composition of the paper core 22 of the moistened towelette 12 is a paper core 22 that contains cellulosic fibers that are treated with a polyaldehyde polymer having free aldehyde groups and a water soluble polyhydroxy polymer, especially polysaccharides having cis-hydroxyl groups in at least a portion of the main polymeric chain. The polymers form bonds joining the fibers when the paper core 22 product is dried. The initial wet strength obtained with the combined use of these materials is significantly greater than that obtained by use of either the polyaldehyde or a polyhydroxy polymer alone. The wet strength is maintained when the paper core 22 is only moistened and not fully saturated. Once submerged in water, such as in a toilet, the bonds are overwhelmed and dissolve away in the free water. The wet strength of the paper core 22 decays at a rate that is rapid enough to enable the paper core 22 to be flushed under conditions of normal use.

The preferred polyaldehyde polymers are cationic. For example, the polyaldehyde may be a cationic, aldehyde functionalized starch or a cationic, aldehyde functionalized polyacrylamide. Preferred polysaccharides include those derived from one or more sugars, such as mannose, galactose, allose, altrose, gulose, talose, ribose, and lyxose. Economically preferred polysaccharides are guar gum, locust bean gum and ionic derivatives thereof. The polysaccharide is preferably a neutral polysaccharide or a charge balanced mixture of polysaccharides.

The sanitary wipes 10 can be packaged for sale either in a complete prepackaged form, or in bulk form. Referring to FIG. 4, a prepackaged form is shown. The sanitary wipe 10 is held in a sealed package 24 that is torn open to remove the sanitary wipe 10. The package 24 is preferably internally lined with wax or otherwise made in a manner that prevents moisture from evaporating from the sanitary wipe 10.

Referring to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment of packaging and selling the sanitary wipe 10 is shown. In this embodiment, the moistened towelettes 12 are packaged in bulk in a larger container 26. The moistened towelettes 12 may have end folds 28 or cut tabs to assist in the lifting of a single moistened towelette 12 from the container 26. Each moistened towelette 12 has a length L1 and a width W1. The preferred length L1 is approximately 4.5 inches, which corresponds to the width of a standard roll of toilet paper in the United States. The preferred width W1 of the moistened towelette 12 is between 2 and 2¼ inches, which is approximately half the width of a standard roll of toilet paper.

The container 26 of moistened towelettes 12 is used in conjunction with a perforated roll of toilet paper 30. The perforated roll of toilet paper 30 is perforated into squares 32. An individual square 32 is removed from the perforated roll of toilet paper 20. The individual square 32 is folded in half. This creates the needed fold of tissue paper 14. A moistened towelette 12 is then removed from the container 26. The moistened towelette 26 is placed in the fold of tissue paper 14, therein completing the sanitary wipe 10. The sanitary wipe 10 is then ready for use. Packaging the moistened towelettes separately from the tissue paper is particularly useful when traveling, camping or otherwise away from a secure bathroom facility with storage facilities.

Referring to FIG. 6, another alternate embodiment of packaging and selling the sanitary wipe 10 is shown. In this embodiment, the moistened towelettes 12 are again packaged in bulk in a larger container 26. Each moistened towelette 12 again has a length L1 and a width W1. The preferred length L1 is approximately 4.5 inches, which corresponds to the width of a standard roll of toilet paper in the United States. The preferred width W1 of the moistened towelette 12 is between 2 and 2¼ inches, which is approximately half the width of a standard roll of toilet paper.

The container 26 of moistened towelettes 12 is used in conjunction with a perforated roll of toilet paper 30. The perforated roll of toilet paper 30 is perforated into squares 32. Two or more of the squares 32 are removed from the perforated roll of toilet paper 30. The individual squares 32 are folded into a size that approximates the dimensions of the moistened towelette 12. A moistened towelette 12 is then removed from the container 26. The moistened towelette 26 is placed against the tissue paper 14, therein completing a sanitary wipe. In this configuration, the moistened towelette 12 remains exposed on one side, should a person decide to apply the towelette 12 directly to the skin.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. For instance, the sanitary wipe can be made in shapes other than rectangular by altering the shape of the moistened towelette and the fold of tissue paper. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sanitary wipe, comprising: a moistened towelette having a paper core that is moistened with a liquid, wherein a predetermined volume of said liquid saturates said paper core, and said paper core is moistened with a first volume of said liquid that is between 50% and 98% of said predetermined volume; a first section of tissue paper; and a second section of tissue paper, wherein said moistened towelette is interposed between said first section of tissue paper and said second section of tissue paper.
 2. The sanitary wipe according to claim 1, wherein said moistened towelette, said first section of tissue paper and said second section of tissue paper all lose physical integrity when submerged in water.
 3. The sanitary wipe according to claim 1, wherein said first section of tissue paper and said second section of tissue paper are connected along a common fold.
 4. The claim according to claim 1, wherein said moistened towelette has a thickness that is at least as great as a combined thickness of both said first section of tissue paper and said second section of tissue paper.
 5. The claim according to claim 1, wherein said paper core contains cellulosic fibers that are treated with a polyaldehyde polymer having free aldehyde groups and a water soluble polyhydroxy polymer.
 6. The claim according to claim 1, wherein said first section of tissue paper and said second section of tissue paper are obtained from a common square torn away from a roll of commercial toilet paper.
 7. The claim according to claim 1, wherein said first section of tissue paper and said second section of tissue paper are sized to completely cover said moistened towelette.
 8. A sanitary wipe, comprising: a moistened towelette moistened with a liquid so that said moistened towelette is between 50% and 98% below a saturation level for said liquid; and a fold of tissue paper having a first section and a second section joined along a common fold, wherein said moistened towelette is interposed between said first section said second section.
 9. The sanitary wipe according to claim 8, wherein said moistened towelette and said fold of tissue paper both lose physical integrity when submerged in water.
 10. The claim according to claim 8, wherein said moistened towelette has a thickness that is at least as great as a combined thickness of both said first section and said second section of said fold of tissue paper.
 11. The claim according to claim 8, wherein said moistened towelette has a paper core that contains cellulosic fibers that are treated with a polyaldehyde polymer having free aldehyde groups and a water soluble polyhydroxy polymer.
 12. The claim according to claim 8, wherein said fold of tissue paper is obtained from a common square torn away from a roll of commercial toilet paper.
 13. The claim according to claim 8, wherein said fold of tissue paper is sized to completely cover said moistened towelette.
 14. A sanitary wipe, comprising: a moistened towelette having a paper core that is moistened with a liquid below a saturation volume, wherein said moistened towelette loses physical integrity when exposed to said liquid above said saturation level; and a wrapping of tissue paper that abuts against said moistened towelette, wherein said wrapping of tissue paper loses physical integrity when exposed to said liquid. 